Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 217: The Mystery

Chapter 217: The Mystery

"I don’t even know what’s real anymore," Serena sighed as she entered the greenhouse, her voice weary and laced with frustration. "We take one step forward, and then something happens to push us back..."

Her gaze landed on Aiden, sitting casually with a bowl of steaming noodles on the table in front of him. The smell hit her instantly, warm and inviting.

She couldn’t help but grin, as she plopped into the chair opposite him. Without hesitation, she reached for the bowl, holding it close and inhaling the savory aroma. "How did you know to have these ready?"

Aiden’s lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. "I figured you wouldn’t be able to sit there for long. Now, eat up, then we’ll talk."

It was only after Serena took her first bite that she realized how ravenous she was. She sighed deeply, savoring the comfort the food brought. Bite after bite, her tense shoulders began to relax. Finally, after a few mouthfuls, she set the bowl down with a small huff of contentment.

"You, Aiden Hawk, are the best," she declared, pointing a chopstick at him with a grin.

Aiden chuckled, but his expression shifted, becoming serious. "Glad to hear it," he said, his tone heavier. "Because I’ve got some news, and it’s... not great."

Serena frowned, her amusement fading as she tilted her head at him. "Do I even want to know?" she muttered, already bracing herself. Then she sighed and shook her head. "Let me guess. It has to do with whoever attacked Uncle—" She corrected herself quickly. "I mean, Matthew. Was it Corrick?"

As she spoke, she stood up and wandered around the small table, finally stopping in front of Aiden. Without a second thought, she perched herself on his lap, throwing her arms around his neck and placing her head on his shoulder with a sigh "Though, honestly," she added with a roll of her eyes, "that wouldn’t surprise me. So what’s the deal? Is it really Corrick?"

Aiden’s arms came up instinctively to steady her, his grip firm as he adjusted her position. In one smooth motion, he rose, carrying her with him, his hand under her knees. He sat back down on the beanbag in the corner, settling her snugly against his chest. Serena let him guide her, curling comfortably into his embrace and even closed her eyes.

"Well," Aiden began in a low voice, " the news is about Corrick. But here’s the twist—I don’t think he ordered the hit. Not on Matthew, at least."

Serena blinked, confusion clouding her face. "What? What are you saying?"

Aiden let out a slow breath, his hand idly brushing against her arm as he spoke. "Unless Corrick’s into some extreme self-sabotage, I doubt he ordered a hit on himself, too."

Her eyes widened, her body tensing against his as she looked up at him. "What are you talking about? A hit on himself? That doesn’t make any sense!" And then her eyes widened as she stared at him," There was an attack on him too?"

"More than an attack. He’s dead."

Serena froze, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at Aiden, her mind racing to make sense of his words. Corrick was dead?

Her voice wavered as she managed to ask, "Are you saying... someone went after both of them at the same time?"

Aiden let out a heavy sigh and reached for her, guiding her head back to rest on his shoulder.

"It happened at the exact same time, Serena," he began, "When Matthew was shot, Corrick was attacked too. It was as if they were simply waiting for Matthew to step out before taking that action. The difference between them—what changed their fates—is that Matthew was surrounded and got immediate medical attention while Corrick was discovered almost an hour later and had already bled out. Either way it would have been impossible for him to survive a gun shot at his age."

"So Corrick’s dead and Matthew might die too. Wow. It seems someone has a bigger grudge against them than me. I don’t know if this entire thing is good or bad...

Aiden rubbed small circles on Serena’s back, his movements steady and reassuring. "For now, we just need to take a breather," he murmured, his voice soft but firm. "Whoever’s behind this will make another move if they’re not done. But until then, let’s not burn ourselves out thinking about it. We’ll be ready when the time comes."

Serena didn’t reply, her tense body slowly melting into his as his soothing touch worked its magic. He felt her breathing even out, the weight of exhaustion finally pulling her into sleep. Aiden glanced down at her peaceful face, her brows still faintly furrowed, even in rest. He let out a soft sigh, pulling the blanket draped over the nearby chair and tucking it around both of them when he felt his phone vibrate.

Shifting carefully to avoid waking her, he fished his phone out of his pocket. The screen lit up, revealing a new message. His relaxed expression changed as he read the words:

"The culprits are taken care of. Now you can focus on keeping her safe and happy... Also, there’s no need to look for me or even thank me. Regards, Eric.

A word of warning, Aiden Hawk. Do not make her unhappy because then you would not like the consequences."

Hurriedly, Aiden dialed the number that he’d received the message from but the phone had already been switched off. He cursed. Eric Dawn? iden’s jaw tightened as he reread the message, his mind spinning with a mix of relief and unease. This man knew that he and Serena were still together. And he’d been the one who’d taken ’care’ of Matthew and Corrick? But if he’d been able to pull off having two people killed like this,then he was a dangerous man... and one who knew them and their relationship.

This was not a good thing... as far as he was concerned.